"Emerson, it's a simple question," Miguel's voice sounds from next to me. He moves his head closer, bending his head to look at my face. From my peripheral vision he seems extremely closer.

"No, Miguel, it's not." I shake my head, keeping my head forward.

Miguel slaps the table and a pained groan leaves him. I finally look over to see him clutching his hand to his chest. A smile appears on my face before a small laugh comes from me. Miguel's head snaps over to me, his eyes set in a glare that's trained on my face. I can't help but laugh more at how he looks. His head is slightly bent and it gives his brow bone a protruding effect almost as if he's a Neanderthal.

"Emerson, this isn't funny. I'm being serious. It's an honest question," Miguel whines. He presses his hands together, interlocking them together.

I roll my eyes but with a small smile on my face. A laugh involuntarily bursts from me. "Fine. We can have a...study party thing."

Miguel pulls his bottom lip into his mouth before he fist bumps the air. Another laugh leaves me as he now looks like a child who's just been told they can go to the store and they can pick out a toy. For some reason, my heart swells as I see the happiness on Miguel's face. Maybe it's because I know how hard he and his family has it or maybe it's because I actually care for him as a friend.

With that being said, it's been a week since Miguel proposed friendship to me. We had condemned our studying to just the library at school during lunch. I can honestly say that it has helped a lot. While we haven't had any tests, there have been study quizzes in our classes to help us get ready for the midterms. I've been doing fairly well and I'm a lot more focused on my grades.

As Miguel has promised, my mind hasn't really been occupied by my drama. I've almost successfully removed myself from the storms that are Sebastian, Micah, and Jenny. Though a certain heartache is still there.

"Cool, my house then?" Miguel's question pulls me from my thoughts. He's back to a normal position on the bench, his brow raised.

"Yeah, that's fine," I nod before realizing something. "Your parents are okay with that? I mean...I'm a bit of a stranger."

Miguel scoffs. "Are you kidding?" He asks rhetorically. "They'll blow a gasket when I come in with a friend, let alone a girl. I'll just tell you now...my parents will probably think something is happening between us."

My eyebrows lifts up and I swear I can almost feel it in my hairline.Miguel and I stay staring at each other; his face blank and mine surprised. Not to sound like I have a bit head or anything, but I hope he doesn't want to pursue a relationship with me. I just got out of a five year long relationship and I'm still in love with my boyfriend who might love someone else.

"And another thing," Miguel adds, his face turning apologetic. "If you could just play along, okay? They really want me to find some-"

"Oh, no sir!" I speak loudly, my eyes wide and full of disbelief. I'm about to go on a tangent about how this friendship can't work when the curly headed boy start laughing. Laughing!

I reach over and push his shoulder. With his rambunctious laughs, he tips over easily with his hand shooting out to grab the table for balance. "Miguel! I was actually scared you actually wanted to get into a relationship with me. Jesus..."

He lifts himself back into a seated position, his grin wide and happy. Shaking his head, he turns to me slyly. "Maybe I do. This could've all been a ploy so we could grow closer."

Giving him a deadpan look, I merely blink.

"Okay, I kid. No, but my folks are fine with you coming over. They'll be happy to have an extra mouth to feed."

He gets up and started piling his trash onto the foam, recycled tray. Looking down at me, he gives a small smile. With a small farewell, Miguel dumps his trash and makes his way inside. I turn and face ahead of me, taking in the landscape of trees and the small faculty parking lot. A throat clears behind me.

Without turning around, I give a greeting, "did you forget something?" I question, a smile on my face. When Miguel doesn't reply, I turn, only to see a sheepish and nervous looking Sebastian.

"Hey, Emie bear," He speaks softly, a small, timid smile on his face.

"Hi, Ten."

I can't help but to give him heart, goo-goo eyes. What can I say, I'm hopelessly and desperately in love with Sebastian Caldwell and I don't think that will every change. Especially now with how he looks. He's looking a little rugged, his facial hair appearing softly letting me know that he hasn't shaved for the past week since our breakup. His hair is a hot mess and I'm afraid that by admitting that, I'm revealing my young and naive age too much. Somehow his outfit looks different from normal. Almost like his wardrobe changed a shade darker, but he looks like some sort of bad boy, but not your typical leather wearing bad boy if that makes sense.

Sebastian comes closer and takes his seat next to me. Looking at him closer now, I can see that he has light purple-pink bags forming under his eyes. They look a bit glazed over too, as if he's got a cold. His lips are a bit chapped and cracked which can happen since the weather is taking a drastic decrease in degrees. Not only that, but his skin is looking a bit...irritated. He's got acne breakouts which never really happens with Sebastian.

"Emie," Sebastian sighs, dropping his head onto my shoulder. With a strain, I turn my head and from my peripheral vision, I can see his eyes are closed.

"Sebastian?" I question, my tone confused and I'll admit, slightly worried. He seems a bit pitiful which I hate to say because it makes me sound like some sort of malicious girl.

"I miss you," is muffled into my shoulder, but I'm still able to decipher it. My heartbeat increases tenfold and I suddenly feel like vomiting. It takes me a moment to realize that I'm nervous.

It's quiet. I have no idea what to say and perhaps he doesn't either. That or sebastian has fallen asleep on my shoulder. The position is awkward and my back is starting to hurt from keeping still and tense.

"Sebastian," I try to shrug him off, but he takes this opportunity to wrap his arm around me, pulling me into his chest.

There's no doubt that I've missed him too and that I'm secretly happy to be in his arms again. I breathe in and out, taking in his familiar scent. Yet the haze is cut through by the small whiff of sweat on his body. Not only that but it's getting too hot with this hug plus the heavy layers on my body. I only just now register that Sebastian has no jacket on. He's just got on a t-shirt with a dark flannel to cover his arms, but it's thin. Too thin to keep him warm.

"Ten, what's wrong with you?" I pull away from him completely so I can look at him as I scold. He knows better than to come out in this weather with no protection. "Have you lost your mind? It's cold today and you're only wearing a flannel? Where did you even get that? I've never seen that in your closet."

Sebastian opens his eyes and gives me a soft smile. He reaches forward and cups my cheeks gently. Leaning forward, he places his forehead against mine and I can now feel the droplets of sweat and an unmistakable heat. I pull back, feeling disgusted with having my forehead drenched.

"Sebastian, I think you have a fever." I lift my head to better feel his head. He's not burning too much, but enough to know his temperature is past one hundred. "Come on, I'll get you to the nurse."

Sebastian just stares at me, the smile still on his face. I should've noticed he was sick by how glazed over his eyes are. Not only that, I can hear his small sniffles, letting me know his nose is stuffed. His mouth is slightly parted too so that he can breathe.

"Emie, I miss you taking care of me. I just miss you. Please take me back." Sebastian's smile drops as he pleads. Tears gather into his eyes and I have no idea what to do. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I need you, Emie."

Standing to my feet, I go to help him up, but instead he pulls me into him with his head buried into my stomach. Sebastian gives a large sniff before coughing harshly. His arms are wound around my midsection. My right hand goes to his hair and I can feel the moisture in it. With a sigh, I begin to massage his scalp, hoping to calm him down.

"Sebastian, we can talk later, okay? For now, I need to the you to the clinic." I try to urge him off, but he keeps his arms firmly around him.

"Sebastian, please." I speak a bit more sternly. "You're sick and you'll only get worse without getting the okay to go home. Please get off and stand up so I can help you to the clinic."

That seems to do the trick as he pulls away. He stands up, his eyes squinted and I'm not sure if it's from a possible headache or because he's kind of drowsy. I just hope there are no mishaps when I take him to the clinic.

With an arm placed firmly around him and his over my shoulders, we start our trek to the clinic. It doesn't take long since everything in our small school is close by. We did have to walk through the cafeteria much to my chagrin. We've only just given everyone something else to talk about before our breakup has even died down.

We reach the clinic and I pull the door open, letting Sebastian walk in first. The nurse, Miss Windel, is quick to assist Sebastian to on of those cushioned beds like in a doctors office. She lays him down and he immediately closes his eyes. Before Sebastian can fall asleep, the nurse has popped in a thermometer into his mouth. Once it beeps, she pulls it out then whistles once she sees the temperature.

"Oh Lordie," she shakes her head before coming over to me. "I'm going to need to check him out. Listen, Emie, I'll check you out too, okay? You're gonna have to get him home safe."

I want to shake my head no at her. "Miss Windel-"

She hushes me with a stern look. "Now, I don't care too much for high school drama, but what I do care about is containing a possible flu. You get him home and you can leave right after. Don't want you getting sick either."

"But his parents?"

"Sebastian is eighteen already. Technically, he's able to check himself out. You, on the other hand, since you're seventeen, your parents will be notified, okay? We'll provide the excuse and let them know this doesn't count you as absent."

I slowly nod, coming to terms with the fact that I have to spend more time with Sebastian. I hate to say that I'm actually a bit excited for this. It's sad, I know.

"Good. Let me get these excuses written up and you can take him." She goes over to her desk and pulls out two slips and a pen.

I walk over to Sebastian with a sigh and sit on his bed, my behind taking the very edge. My eyes trail to him involuntarily. Despite all of this mess and heartbreak, I'm dejected to see him so sick, especially now that we aren't together. I almost feel like I failed him? Like that maybe if I had kept up our charade, we would have been okay. I can't help but identify as being responsible for every mess that has happened between us so far.

"I love you, Emie," I blink at those words, only now realizing that Sebastian's eyes are open and he's watching me. "I'm in love with you too."

What the hell is he talking about?

*Well hey there. Another day, another chapter. And what a chapter it was. What? Sebastian is suddenly in love with Emie? Who would've guessed that? Or who did guess that? Have you guys been rooting for Sebastian and Emie, or did you want Sebastian to find a boy to be with? And Emie? Do y'all want her to end up with someone else? Also, what do you think Sebastian identifies as? Please, don't be afraid to comment and don't forget to vote. Thanks so much for reading.*